BSCI 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Chitin, Amylopectin, Amylose

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Biological Sciences Program
• Course: BSCI 105
• Professor: Norma Allewell

Document Summary

3 major macromolecules: polymers, carbohydrates, and lipids, glycogen are branched and formed helices. As macromolecules evolve, they gain new functions: emergent properties. Dehydration: water is released from reacting molecules, a-oh + b-h -> a-b + h2o. Hydrolysis: water breaks the bonds joining the two molecules, a-b + h20 -> a-oh + b-h. Biopolymers are synthesized in dehydration reactions: the addition is directional. Two ends of the polymer are different: cells add monomers to a growing polymer. Biopolymers are broken down in hydrolytic reactions. Dehydration build polymers, hydrolysis breaks down polymers. Polysaccharide: monosaccharides make up polysaccharides by glycosidic bonds, storage polysaccharides. Fungi: all are polymers of glucose. Chitin has an amide group attached: differ in degree of branching, linkage between monomers and amount of helical structure, glycogen and starch use alpha glucose, cellulose uses beta glucose. Chitin is the structural carbohydrate of arthropods.